'Guardians of the Galaxy': Marvel Head Spills New Character Details

James Gunn's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is more than halfway through filming, but like every other Marvel project, it remains shrouded in mystery. The film may be based on some of the company's most obscure characters, but it's that unknown factor that makes the whole thing so fascinating to follow. What exactly is 'Guardians of the Galaxy'? More importantly, who are the Guardians of the Galaxy? For those not steeped in comic book lore, don't worry. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has some information for you.

Speaking with Empire magazine (via Comic Book Movie), Feige broke down the motivations of the eclectic team. Like the Avengers before them, this seems like a group that seemingly has no reason to be in same room, let alone on the same team, which makes them all the more interesting:

They are an unlikely band. It's pure circumstance that brings them all together throughout the course of the movie. Rocket has been genetically and mechanically altered, he's an experiment from one part of the galaxy. Groot is a species that happens to look like trees look, and is quite communicative if you can understand the different inflections in the way he says, "I am Groot." Peter Quill left Earth in the mid'80s, but when we meet back up with him he's very much a citizen of the universe. Drax has one goal and one goal only, which is to kill Ronan because of a past tragedy. When we meet Gamora, she's a bad guy working with Ronan and Nebula and Korath, and by extension for Thanos. Gamora doesn't necessarily like doing that anymore, and tries to find a new path for herself. But she has a reputation as the deadliest woman in the galaxy that people aren't greeting her with open arms.

And as far as the bad guys go in this film:

Ronan The Accuser is very much the main bad guy. And Thanos is lurking above it all. You will learn more about Thanos in Guardians, for sure. Certainly you’ll get more than the one turn around and smirk. You’ll get much more than that!

Everything we hear about 'Guardians of the Galaxy' only makes it sound weirder, crazier and more interesting. This isn't a traditional superhero movie; it's an oddball space opera. If it works, it's because it's a legitimately good movie, not because we have a prior attachment to these mostly unknown characters. It may be based on a comic, but everything about this movie sounds so fresh and (dare we say it?) original.

'Guardians of the Galaxy' will be released on August 1, 2014 and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Benicio Del Toro, Lee Pace, Glenn Close, John C. Reilly and a bunch of other people you really like.